Fibre Slurry Preparation and Dispersion Systems
topic
Wetlaid fibre slurry preparation uses hydrapulpers or fibre dispersers to disperse staple fibres at concentrations of 0.01 to 0.5 percent by weight in water with surfactant or viscosity modifier addition to prevent fibre flocculation, with high-shear dispersion equipment producing a uniform fibre suspension that is metered to the forming headbox at controlled flow rate and consistency for deposition on the forming wire.
Role
Produces the uniform fibre dispersion that is prerequisite for wetlaid web formation quality, with fibre flocculation in the slurry causing non-uniform web deposition that creates the cloud and formation defects that reduce filtration efficiency and mechanical property uniformity in the wetlaid nonwoven, making dispersion chemistry and equipment design the critical first-stage quality determinant in wetlaid nonwoven production.